What's a torrent?

Question

I know it's got something to do with downloading videos and tv shows but that's all I know.Could someone please fill me in?

Answer 1

BitTorrent is the name of a peer-to-peer (P2P) file distribution client application and also of a file sharing protocol, both of which were created by programmer Bram Cohen. BitTorrent is designed to distribute large amounts of data widely without incurring the corresponding consumption in costly server and bandwidth resources. CacheLogic suggests that BitTorrent traffic accounts for ~35% of all traffic on the Internet,[1] while other sources are skeptical.[2]

The original BitTorrent application was written in Python. Its source code, as of version 4.0, has been released under the BitTorrent Open Source License (a modified version of the Jabber Open Source License). There are numerous compatible clients, written in a variety of languages and running on a variety of computing platforms.

Answer 2

Technically, the definition is:
A turbulent, swift-flowing stream.
A heavy downpour; a deluge.
A heavy, uncontrolled outpouring...

This is what you're looking for:
BitTorrent is the name of a peer-to-peer (P2P) file distribution client application and also of a file sharing protocol, both of which were created by programmer Bram Cohen. BitTorrent is designed to distribute large amounts of data widely without incurring the corresponding consumption in costly server and bandwidth resources.
http://www.bittorrent.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent

Answer 3

a bit torrent. think of it as a river (torrent) of information (bits of info). there r p2p (peer to peer, 1puter to another) programs that allow u to hook up and download from other users that r on line
such as emule edonkey limewire and others. they all do the same thing they all individual users to download from this torrent

Answer 4

I'm not about to give you all the details of how this works...read for yourself...
http://www.bittorrent.com/faq.html